North Korean defectors reveal how K-pop changed their lives
North Korean defectors say South Korean pop music, including BTS, opened a window to freedom and helped them adapt to a new life, offering hope even in prison.
For many North Korean defectors, South Korean pop music has become a significant part of their new life in the South. According to the BBC, restrictions on South Korean culture in North Korea are severe, and its distribution can lead to prison or even execution. Despite this, many North Koreans secretly listened to K-pop songs and watched shows.
Defectors reveal that BTS music gave them strength. One woman, who fled North Korea in 2011, says that at BTS concerts she feels free to choose whom to support. Another defector, who escaped in 2023, admits that BTS's song 'Dynamite' appealed to her with its melody, even though she didn't understand the lyrics. She recalls that teenagers in North Korea copied the group's dance moves.
Secret listening often occurred using MP3 players or SD cards. Many fans did not know song titles or artists, focusing instead on the lyrics. One defector reveals that while listening to a ballad, she understood for the first time how people express love. Later she learned it was Green Zone's 'It's Not Too Late'.
The risk of being caught was high. Schools held public criticism sessions, and some youths were sent to detention centers. In 2022, three teenagers were reportedly executed for distributing South Korean content. Nevertheless, a survey found that 98% of defectors said they had watched South Korean dramas or films back home.
One woman who attempted to flee and was repatriated to North Korea survived in prison thanks to a BTS song. She remembers singing: 'Get up. Don't let yourself be broken.' After arriving in the South, she found solace in the BTS fandom, where she could finally reveal her origin without judgment. BTS music, especially 'Answer: Love Myself', gave her the courage to accept herself.
Another defector, who has lived in the South for 20 years, says BTS's 'Spring Day' reminds her of lost loved ones in North Korea. She admits that K-pop gave her the ability to express emotions that were impossible in her homeland.
